U.S. patent application number 12/104365 was filed with the patent office on 2008-10-16 for vehicle seat, in particular a motor vehicle seat.
Invention is credited to Carsten Gaul, Dan Stoia.
Application Number | 20080251679 12/104365 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39767803 |
Filed Date | 2008-10-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080251679 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Stoia; Dan ; et al. |
October 16, 2008 |
Vehicle Seat, in Particular a Motor Vehicle Seat
Abstract
A vehicle seat, in particular a motor vehicle seat, comprising a
first support location and a second support location for the
pivotable accommodation of a tube. The first support location is an
axially fixed bushing made of polymeric material that is adapted to
be snap fitted with the tube to axially fix the tube in position.
The second support location is adapted to accommodate the tube in
an axially moveable manner.
Inventors: |
Stoia; Dan; (Stadthagen,
DE) ; Gaul; Carsten; (Meerbeck, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROBERT W. BECKER & ASSOCIATES
707 HIGHWAY 333, SUITE B
TIJERAS
NM
87059-7507
US
|
Family ID: |
39767803 |
Appl. No.: |
12/104365 |
Filed: |
April 16, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
248/429 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60N 2/0881 20130101;
B60N 2205/50 20130101; B60N 2205/20 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/429 |
International
Class: |
B60N 2/12 20060101
B60N002/12 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 16, 2007 |
DE |
10 2007 018 101.0 |
Claims
1. A vehicle seat, comprising: a first support means for the
pivotable accommodation of a tube (22), wherein said first support
means is an axially fixed bushing (13) made of polymeric material,
and wherein said bushing is adapted to be snap fit with said tube
(22) to axially fix said tube in position; and a second support
means for the pivotable accommodation of said tube (22), wherein
said second support means is adapted to accommodate said tube in an
axially moveable manner.
2. A vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein said bushing made
of elastomeric material (13) is provided with at least one axially
extending tongue (27, 29, 31) that is adapted to resiliently yield,
further wherein a first snap fit means (27.1, 29.1, 32) is formed
on said tongue (27, 29, 31), further wherein a second snap fit
means (28, 30, 33) is provided on said tube (22), and wherein said
first snap fit means (27.1, 29.1, 32) is adapted to cooperate with
said second snap fit means (28, 30, 33).
3. A vehicle seat according to claim 2, wherein said first snap fit
means (29.1) is a nose that is formed on said tongue (29), and
wherein said second snap fit means (30) is an annular groove that
is provided on said tube (22).
4. A vehicle seat according to claim 2, wherein said first snap fit
means (27.1) is a nose that is formed on said tongue (27), and
wherein said second snap fit means (28) is a depression that is
stamped into said tube (22).
5. A vehicle seat according to claim 2, wherein said second snap
fit means (33) is a hole formed in said tube (22), further wherein
said first snap fit means (32) is a projection that is formed on an
end of said tongue (31), further wherein said projection (32) is
comprised of individual resilient arms (32.1) having an arrangement
that is adapted to the shape of said hole (33), and wherein ends of
said resilient arms (32.1) are provided with noses or detents
(32.2) that upon pressing of said projection (32) into said hole
(33) are adapted to engage behind an inner wall of said tube
(22).
6. A vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein said bushing made
of polymeric material (13) is provided with holding means (14) for
axial fixation of said bushing (13) in said first support means
(16, 15).
7. A vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein said bushing made
of polymeric material (13) is a separate component.
8. A vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein said bushing made
of polymeric material (13) is a substituent of another component
(11).
Description
[0001] The instant application should be granted the priority date
of Apr. 16, 2007 the filing date of the corresponding German patent
application DE 10 2007 018 101.0.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a vehicle seat, in
particular a motor vehicle seat having a first and second support
means for the pivotable accommodation of a tube, whereby at least
the first support means is formed by an axially fixed bushing made
of polymeric material.
[0003] A vehicle seat of this type is known from DE 199 11 281 A1.
To achieve as little mounting play of the tube as possible at low
manufacturing expenditure, the tube is mounted in a bushing of
polymeric material, which is provided with elastic elements for the
biasing of the tube in the radial direction and in the axial
direction. This approach allows compensation of manufacturing
tolerances in the spacing between two support means or locations of
the tube, without this resulting in twisting or rattling
noises.
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 6,457,775 B2 describes a further vehicle seat
of the aforementioned type. This seat is longitudinally
displaceably mounted on the floor of a vehicle via pairs of rails
provided on both sides, whereby the seat can be arrested in desired
longitudinally adjusted positions by arresting the upper rails in
the lower rails. The release mechanism of the rail arrestment means
includes two tubes, the respective ends of which can be rotatably
connected in a bushing of polymeric material, with their other ends
being fixedly connectable to the release lever, which is provided
with a short tube and which together therewith is rotatably
insertable into a further bushing of polymeric material. The
bushings are formed on a component of polymeric material that is
secured to flange elements that project from the upper rails, for
example by being bolted thereto.
[0005] It is an object of the present invention to eliminate, or at
least substantially reduce, the axial play of the tube that is
present due to manufacturing tolerances in the spacing of the two
support locations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] This object, and other objects and advantages of the present
invention, are realized by a vehicle seat where the first support
means is an axially fixed bushing made of polymeric material,
wherein this bushing is adapted to be snap fit with the tube to
axially fix the tube in position, with the second support means
being adapted to accommodate the tube in an axially moveable
manner.
[0007] Due to this approach, the tube is axially fixed to the first
support means or location, while on the opposite side, at the
second support means or location, tolerances in the spacing between
the two support means are accommodated in a freely sliding manner
since the tube is axially moveably guided in the support means. The
snap fit connection between the tube and the first support means
ensures an easy installation of the tube. Due to the axial fixation
of the tube, components that are connected therewith, for example a
control lever, also have a precise axial position, so that they
exhibit no tight fits and have no collisions with adjoining
components.
[0008] It is to be understood that instead of the tube, it would
also be possible to use a rod.
[0009] Further specific features of the present invention will be
described in detail subsequently.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] Three exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be
described in conjunction with the accompanying schematic drawings,
in which:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a side view of a motor vehicle seat, which is
longitudinally adjustable via pairs of rails that are provided on
both sides, and that is secured to the floor of a vehicle such that
it can be arrested in various adjusted positions;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a perspective illustration of the pair of rails
with assembled arresting means and release means seen at an angle
from the front;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a front view of the illustration of FIG. 2;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the illustration of FIG. 2;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a view taken in the direction of the arrow A in
FIG. 4;
[0016] FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional illustration taken
along the line A-A in FIG. 5;
[0017] FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional illustration taken
along the line B-B in FIG. 5;
[0018] FIG. 8 is an enlargement of the dot-dash portion A in FIG.
2;
[0019] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a second exemplary
embodiment taken along the line A-A in FIG. 5;
[0020] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the second embodiment
taken along the line B-B in FIG. 5;
[0021] FIG. 11 is an enlargement of the dot-dash portion A in FIG.
2 pursuant to the second embodiment;
[0022] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the illustration of FIG. 11
from the inner side;
[0023] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a third exemplary
embodiment taken along the line A-A in FIG. 5;
[0024] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the third embodiment
taken along the line B-B in FIG. 5; and
[0025] FIG. 15 is an enlargement of the dot-dash portion A in FIG.
2 pursuant to the third embodiment.
DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS
[0026] Referring now to the drawings in detail, the features common
to all three embodiments of the invention will first be explained
subsequently.
[0027] The motor vehicle seat shown in FIG. 1 has a sitting portion
1 and, secured thereto, a backrest 2 that can be adjusted with
regard to its inclination and that is provided with a head support
3. The motor vehicle seat is mounted on the floor 5 of a vehicle so
as to be longitudinally displaceable in the direction of the double
arrow 4. For this purpose, disposed on each of its longitudinal
sides is a respective pair of rails, each pair being comprised of a
lower rail 6 and an upper rail 7. The lower rails 6 are secured to
the floor 5 of the vehicle, for example by being bolted thereto,
while the upper rails 7 are fixedly connected with the sitting
portion 1 and are mounted in the lower rails 6 so as to be
longitudinally displaceable. In order to be able to fix
longitudinally adjusted positions of the motor vehicle seat that
are obtained, arresting means 8 are provided via which the upper
rails 7 can be fixed in position on the lower rails 6. To release
the arresting means 8, a control lever 9 is provided that is
connected with means for the release of the arresting means 8.
[0028] The release means include a rocker arm 10, which is
preassembled on the pair of rails 6, 7 by means of a holding lever
11 that is made of polymeric material.
[0029] On one end, the holding lever 11 has a support journal 12,
and on its other end has a support bushing 13 with detents 14. The
support bushing 13 extends on both sides of the holding lever 11.
During assembly, that end of the support bushing 13 that is
provided with the detents 14 is inserted into a hole 15 that is
provided in a bracket 16 that projects perpendicularly from the
upper rail 7. In this connection, the support bushing 13 is
inserted through the hole 15 to such an extent that the detents 14
latch behind the bracket 16 (FIGS. 7, 10, 14). The holding lever 11
is now non-detachably yet pivotably fixed in position on the
bracket 16. The next step is the mounting of the rocker arm 10. The
rocker arm has a support bushing 10.1 that is inserted from the
outside through an elongated hole 17 that is provided in the
bracket 16 and extends upwardly from the bottom. The support
bushing 10.1 is inserted into the support journal 12 of the holding
lever 11 until non-illustrated detents of the support journal 12
engage into an annular groove 18 that is provided on the free end
of the support bushing 10.1. The rocker arm 10 is thereby
non-detachably fixed in position on the holding lever 11.
Subsequently, a leg spring 19 is mounted, the windings of which are
pressed onto the inwardly facing end of the support bushing 13 of
the holding lever 11. One leg 19.1 of the leg spring 19 then rests
from below against a nose 20 that is angled off from the holding
lever 11, while the other leg 19.2 is supported against a tongue 21
that is pressed out of the bracket 16. The holding lever 11 is thus
upwardly biased, so that the support bushing 10.1 of the rocker arm
10 rests against the upper edge of the elongated hole 17.
[0030] With the rocker arms 10 preassembled in this manner, the
pairs of rails 6, 7 are now provided for the final assembly. In
this connection, the ends of a tubular release shaft 22, which is
fixedly connected with the control lever 9, is inserted into the
support bushings 13 of the holding levers 11 on both sides of the
seat. At the same time, there is also effected a connection of the
rocking arms 10 with the release shaft 22, whereby this connection
is respectively effected via a metallic release lever 23, on the
free end of which is riveted a bolt or pin 24 that extends parallel
to the release shaft 22. This pin 24 is inserted into the support
bushing 10.1 of the rocker arm 10, with this taking place on both
sides of the seat.
[0031] The distance a (FIGS. 7, 10, 14) between the central axes of
the release shaft 22 and of the pin 24 is subject to variations due
to tolerances. Since in the final assembled state the support
bushing 13 as well as the support journal 12 of the holding lever
11 must be disposed concentrically relative to the release shaft 22
and the pin 24 respectively, it is necessary for the length of the
holding lever 11 to be able to follow these variations or
fluctuations. Therefore, a wavy or corrugated portion 25 is
provided between the support journal 12 and the support bushing 13;
the thickness of the holding lever 13 is moreover reduced in this
corrugated portion 25. The corrugated portion 25 makes it possible
to axially extend or compress the holding lever 11 during insertion
of the pin 24 into the rocker arm support bushing 10.1 that in turn
is inserted into the support journal 12 of the holding lever 11, so
that variations of the distance a between the central axes of the
pin 24 and of the release shaft 22 can be compensated for.
[0032] To release the interlocking between the upper rails 7 and
the lower rails 6, the control lever 9 has to be raised. As a
result, the release levers 23, which are fixedly located on the
release shaft 22, pivot downwardly, taking along the rocker arms 10
via the pins 24. In so doing, the rockers arms 10 press upon push
rods 26 (FIGS. 8, 11, 12, 15), whereby the pivotable arrangement of
the rockers arms 10 upon the pins 24 of the release levers 23
ensures that the push rods 26 are uniformly actuated even if
tolerances are present. The push rods 26 are part of the arresting
means 8, the construction principle of which corresponds to that
described in DE 199 18 600 B4, whereby reference is hereby made
thereto. Notwithstanding this, the construction and function of the
arresting means 8 is not important for understanding the present
invention, and at any rate is known to one of skill in the art.
[0033] The problem with the construction described up to now is
that the spacing between the pairs of rails 6 and 7 that are
provided on both sides can fluctuate by up to 10 mm as a result of
manufacturing. Due to these tolerances, the release unit, composed
of release shaft 22, release lever 23, and rocker arms 10, has an
axial play, relative to the release shaft 22, that at adjoining
components of the motor vehicle seat can be too great, which can
result in tight fits or collisions, for example of the control
lever 9 with these components. Therefore, an elimination or
reduction of the axial play of the release unit is desirable that
leads to a fixed spacing D between the control lever 9 and the
adjacent pair of rails 6, 7 (FIG. 3).
[0034] The problem described above is solved by snap fitting one
end of the release shaft 22 with the associated support bushing 13
of the holding lever 11, as a result of which the release shaft 22,
and hence the overall release unit, is axially fixed in position,
while the opposite end of the release shaft 22 is axially moveably
guided in the associated support bushing 13 of that holding lever
11. This axially slidable guidance of the release shaft 22 in this
support location is not illustrated in the drawings.
[0035] Three embodiments are provided for the snap fitting of the
release shaft 22 with the support bushing 13; these three
embodiments will be explained subsequently with the aid of the
drawings.
[0036] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 to 8, two diametrically
oppositely disposed tongues 27 are formed on that end of the
support bushing 13 of the holding lever 11 that projects outwardly
through the bracket 16. Radially inwardly extending, wedge-shaped
noses 27.1 are disposed on the ends of the tongues 27. Stamped at
that end of the release shaft 22 that is associated with this
support bushing 13 are diametrically oppositely disposed recesses
or depressions 28 that correspond to the wedge shape of the noses
27.1. During the assembly of the release shaft 22, its end is
inserted into the support bushing 13. In so doing, the tongues 27
temporarily spring outwardly to then engage via their noses 27.1
into the depressions 28. The release unit, composed of the release
shaft 22, the control lever 9, the release levers 23, and the
rockers arms 10, is thus fixed axially in position on one of the
pairs of rails 6, 7. With the support means or location disposed
opposite the above described support position, the corresponding
end of the release shaft 22 is axially moveably supported in the
associated support bushing 13 of the holding lever 11 provided
there; this is not illustrated in the drawing. This can be achieved
by here omitting the tongues 27 of the support bushing 13 and the
depressions 28 in the release shaft 22. However, advantageously
only the depressions 28 are omitted, since then the holding lever
11 with the integrated support bushings 13 can have an identical
configuration on both sides of the seat.
[0037] In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 9 to 12, relative to
their installed position two diametrically oppositely disposed
tongues 29 are formed on the inner ends of the support bushing 13,
with spherical noses 29.1 being disposed on the ends of the tongues
29. Upon insertion of the associated end of the release shaft 22,
these noses 29.1 engage into an annular groove 30 that is stamped
or otherwise formed in the release shaft 22, whereupon the release
shaft is axially fixed at this support location. For the oppositely
disposed support location, applicable is the same situation as that
described in conjunction with the first embodiment.
[0038] FIGS. 13 to 15 show a further embodiment of the present
invention. Here, again relative to its installed position, only one
tongue 31 is provided on the inner end of the support bushing 13. A
radially inwardly projecting, snap fastener type projection 32 is
formed on the end of the tongue 31. This projection 32 is comprised
of individual resilient arms 32.1, which are arranged on a circle
and on the ends of which are disposed hook-shaped noses or detents
32.2. A round hole 33 is provided in the associated end of the
release shaft 22. For the axial fixing of the release shaft 22 in
position on the associated pair of rails 6, 7, the projection 32 is
pressed into the hole 33, so that the noses 32.2 of the projection
32 latch behind the inner wall of the release shaft 22.
[0039] Reference is again made to the first embodiment with respect
to the opposite support location.
[0040] In the aforementioned embodiments, the support bushing 13
was described as an integral substituent of a further component,
namely the holding lever 11. However, it is, of course, also within
the scope of the present invention that this support bushing 13 can
be a separate component.
[0041] The specification incorporates by reference the disclosure
of German priority document DE 10 2007 018 101.0 filed Apr. 16,
2007.
[0042] The present invention is, of course, in no way restricted to
the specific disclosure of the specification and drawings, but also
encompasses any modifications within the scope of the appended
claims.
* * * * *